Month: January 2021

There was an occasion when Jesus asked His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is (v.13)?” The disciples’ responses reflected what they had heard from those who lived in and around the pagan area of Caesarea Philippi. Some say John the Baptist; however, John had already been beheaded; others say Elijah, Jeremiah, or just one of the prophets (v. 14). People recognized Him as a man of distinction, one of the Old Testament prophets; but just like many today, they didn’t truly know who He was. But being the Master teacher He made His inquiry personal. He asked them, “But who do you say that I am (v. 15)?” Peter was the spokesman for the disciples, and he answered, “You are the Christ the Son of the living God” (v.16). Just as Peter boldly confessed Jesus as the Christ each one of us must do the same because our relationship with Him is personal. He confessed that Christ was the Son of the living God. Yes, He is the true and living God and not a lifeless god of the pagans. He is all-powerful, authoritative, and majestic. Romans 10:9 promises us that if we confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in our heart that God raised Him from the dead, we will be saved. Who can deny that there’s validity in the old adage that “Confession is good for the soul?”

Peter’s answer to Jesus’ question as to His identity, revealed an important aspect of salvation. The revelation and confession of who Christ is can only come from a heart that God has prepared (Matthew 11:27) and witnesses “Jesus is Lord” comes only by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:3). Jesus responded, calling Peter, Simon son of Jonah, and told him that he was blessed because flesh and blood did not reveal who He was to him, but His Father who is in heaven (v. 17). Your confession of who Jesus is, not only puts you in a personal relationship with Him, but Jesus said that you are “blessed”; that is, you are “happy, spiritually secure, and highly favored.”

Matthew 5:9, NKJV

In Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, He taught the crowd and his disciples spiritual principles needed to be in a covenant relationship with him. Because we are in a covenant relationship with Jesus Christ, our attitudes are to align with his. “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” Matthew 5:3-12 are called the Beatitudes. The word “Beatitude” comes from a Latin word meaning “happy” or “blessed,” according to Holman Bible Dictionary. Here we will address beatitude seven “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” (Matthew 5:9, NKJV).

Right now in this country we are experiencing multiple storms of life – injustice, false election accusations, protests, riots, and more. What is the responsibility of the believer in these turbulent times? We are the peacemakers. According to Holman Bible Dictionary “peacemakers are those who actively work to bring about peace and reconciliation where there is hatred and enmity.” There was a time when Jesus and his disciples were crossing the Sea of Galilee. He was asleep when a great windstorm arose. The waves crashed into the boat, filling it. Jesus’ disciples were in a panic, fearing that they would perish; they awoke him. “Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Peace, be still!’ And the wind ceased and there was a great calm” (Mark 4:39). Jesus questioned them about being fearful and their lack of faith. They were so afraid that they questioned one   another about who is he that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”

Jesus illustrated that we are not to be afraid because of a lack of faith. We are peacemakers and will be called children of God. Have faith in Him through Jesus Christ. Be Christ like in our attitude, and let our words be seasoned and calming in the midst of a raging storm. Let’s love our neighbor as we love ourselves, be peaceable toward them, and edify them.  “Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone” (Romans 12:18, NLT). We are blessed to be called children of God!

Proverbs 2:7; 2:1-5 (NRSV)

Proverbs 1:7 says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Believers must not despise wisdom; we must embrace it, otherwise our life won’t be meaningful. Believers must not despise instruction; we must embrace it too, or our living won’t be disciplined. We must   have a reverential fear – a fear that honors and respects the Lord for this fear is the source of knowledge. It requires us to surrender our ways and submit to the ruling of God and obedience to His word. Those who refuse to honor God and His way reject wisdom and instruction and are fools.

 How impressive it would be if every parent spoke passionately to their children as Solomon did his son, instilling in them the value of wisdom! We spend much of our time on earth seeking possessions, prestige, successful living, and riches. Most often these become our gods and the center of our focus. Wisdom is more valuable than riches because it centers our focus toward knowledge of the true and living God. Solomon teaches us of the benefits wisdom provides, but there are conditions we must meet to experience them.  

In verses four through eight Solomon offers eight conditional – if…then commands (paraphrased) and verse five is the reward for meeting the conditions. He advises his son that if he accepts his words and hides his commandments within him (v.1); inclines, or listens intently to wisdom and inclining his heart, making every effort to understand it (v.2); if he indeed cries out for insight, or discernment, and raises his voice for understanding (v.3);if he seeks it like silver, and search for it as for hidden treasures (v.4) – then he will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God (v.5). Solomon encourages his son to seek wisdom in the same eager manner men used in mines in days of old to search for silver. Search for her as for hidden treasures that required excessive labor and digging. Your labor will not be in vain for when you find it, you find spiritual treasure; that is your reward. Wisdom is not unreachable or illusive. Seeking it requires loyalty and commitment. Even though it is of God, only those who earnestly seek for it as silver, and search intensely for it as for hidden treasures will find it. Then we will understand the fear of the Lord
and find the knowledge of God.

Exodus 19:3-6 (KJV)

The beauty of making a promise is keeping it, yet anyone of us may make a promise and never fulfill it. But don’t you just love it because God is a promise-keeper? He promised Israel He’d make them a peculiar treasure to Himself; the promise was conditional.

 “ ³And Moses went up unto God, and the Lord called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; ⁴ Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself ” (Exodus 19:3-4).

Moses went up to the mountain, and the Lord instructed him to tell Israel they saw what He did to the Egyptians. They had seen God triumph in the confrontation between Moses and Pharaoh when Moses returned to Egypt. Pharaoh was a type of devil. In Moses’ first encounter with Pharaoh, Pharaoh asked “Who is the Lord that I should obey Him?” God hardened Pharaoh’s heart and sent ten different plagues on the land of Egypt. Pharaoh did let the children of Israel go. They saw how God bore them on eagles’ wings; this was figurative of God bringing His own from Egypt to Sinai, illustrating how God as a loving parent saves and protects His children just as an eagle cares for its young.  He wanted them to remember how He brought them to Himself. This foreshadows Christ’s death on the cross, bringing mankind back in a right relationship with Him. 

“ ⁵ Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; ⁶ and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel” (ESV).

In these two verses the Lord called Israel: “a treasured possession,” “a kingdom of priests,” and “a holy nation.” These titles were dependent upon two conditions for the nation of Israel and are so for us, the church, today – obedience to God and keeping His covenant. Then there are divine blessings which such a nation would experience: “for all the earth is mine;” the nation of Israel would belong especially to the Lord, representing Him in the earth and being set apart unto Him for His purposes. Is God’s promise relevant today? Yes, it is; He is a promise-keeper. He, and He alone is unique and sovereign and must be recognized as our only True and Living God. His peculiar treasure is to have no other gods before Him. He is jealous and all-powerful; no so-called god of man’s can stand against Him. We are God’s spiritual kingdom, “His treasured possession.” Let us represent.